Jim Seimas, Airing It Out: SLV alum Levitre shines in blowout

Though he performs in relative obscurity on the offensive line, Andy Levitre will likely get a big contract extension at some point this season from the Buffalo Bills.

The fourth-year pro -- who made his 53rd straight start Sunday against the 49ers -- is in the final year of his rookie contract. Negotiations for an extension are reportedly underway.

While it's clear the Bills value their starting left guard, I'm curious when other people will start to take notice. Specifically, I want to see Levitre in Hawaii after the season. He deserves to make the Pro Bowl for the first time. Coaches, players and you, the fans, have a vote.

Hopefully, you share my opinion.

"I'd much rather be in the Super Bowl than the Pro Bowl," said Levitre, visibly frustrated after an embarrassing 45-3 loss to the host 49ers.

A universal soldier for the Bills (2-3), Levitre -- a San Lorenzo Valley High alum and Oregon State standout who was drafted in the second round of the NFL's 2009 Draft -- has played pretty much every position on the offensive line and never missed a game. He is the one constant on a team full of inconsistencies. And he's darn good at what he does.

In a crowded locker room full of players looking to skip town quickly after the loss, I found one believer: tight end Scott Chandler.

I could've found more, but deadline was looming. And so was the Bills' flight back to New York.

"I don't think there's anyone as talented," Chandler said. "He's the consummate teammate and the consummate professional. He's a great athlete. He can play everywhere on the line and knows what he's doing. He deserves some recognition."

Levitre, who will make $615,000 this season, proved his worth in the Bills' lopsided loss Sunday.

I know that reads odd: A guy's team gets obliterated, scores just three points, and he deserves special honors?

Yes. A homer, maybe, but I can assure you I don't have seagull turd in my eyes.

From beginning to the end, 60 minutes of hell for the Bills, I kept my eyes on Levitre in the trenches. I wanted to see how he fared against feisty 49ers defensive end Justin Smith, the fourth overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by Cincinnati and a Pro-Bowl selection the past three seasons.

Smith entered the contest with 72.5 career sacks. He ended the game sitting at the same total, as two, 300-pound men who can, seemingly, chop down giant redwoods with their bare hands battled it out.

Levitre has several goals each game and they remain the same each week. Among them: Don't get any penalties. Don't let the guy he's guarding make tackles for a loss of yards, which includes no sacks; and above all, protect the quarterback.

Smith had no sacks and finished with four tackles, some after decent gains rushing.

He threw everything he had at Levitre, and Levitre stood his ground.

Smith tried running around Levitre with a variety of tactics. He bull rushed him often, and tried spin moves, club moves, rips and swim moves. All of it went unrewarded for Smith.

"It was physical," Levitre said of his matchup. "He loves to bull rush. ... I played OK. But I didn't do anything exceptional, like pancake him."

I beg to differ. He did his part. And if 10 other Bills starters did their part, maybe this would've been a game.

"It's frustrating," said Levitre, making his first appearance in the Bay Area. "We're right there with the breakout plays. We couldn't sustain any drives. It's unacceptable."

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked once and held to 126 yards passing and the Bills were held to 89 yards rushing.

It's not Levitre fault. Again, he did his part.

Now, as football fans, you should do yours when online voting begins in the coming weeks.